94/65/1

This is a cylindrical wrought iron thatching needle from Suffolk. The eye is positioned near the pointed end, and there is some red paint on the looped handle. Tarred cord is threaded through the eye, and the needle pushed through the thatch into the roof space. The cord is then passed around a rafter, re-threaded in the needle by a helper, withdrawn by the thatcher, and then secured to a hazel rod. This needle is part of a collection of thatching tools donated by Jeff King, a thatcher and former thatching advisor at CoSIRA.

1 thatcher's needle: metal (wrought iron); good conditionCylindrical; loop end for handle; some red paint; eye near pointed end

MERL miscellaneous note – ‘Collection of thatching tools given by Mr Geoff [Jeff] King, … , Evesham, Worcs, … , in February 1994. // Geoff King: // Took advantage of gov’t rehabilitation scheme on leaving the navy in 1957 to learn thatching. He was taught by George Wright, a thatcher of Nurseling, Southampton. After three years, he set up business on his own account on the outskirts of Southampton. // In 1970 he became Thatching Adviser for COSIRA [Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas]. This involved much travel, giving advice to other thatchers, house owners, public authorities etc. The job also involved being one of the tutors on the thatching course run at Knuston Hall adult education centre, near Wellingborough, Northants. These are two week courses for apprentice thatchers and they have to attend three a year. The courses are put on by the Rural Development Commission, successor body to COSIRA. // Geoff King retired in the summer of 1993, but reorganisation with the Rural Development Commission resulted in a delay in the appointment of his successor so he stayed on a little longer. // The tools that Mr King has given to the Museum have been collected in the course of his work around the country over the last twenty years and were accessories in his teaching. // See The Thatcher’s Craft, Rural Industries Bureau, 1960. Library ref. 5790. Chapter 7, Thatching Tools and Materials, P.205.’, MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 94/65/1–10 – 'Recorder: RB/JMB // Date: Sept. 1994 // Description: A group of 10 wrought iron thatching needles. // (1) Cylindrical, loop end for handle – some red paint. Eye near pointed end. Length: 69.4 cm Handle: 11.0 cm // (2) Flat needle, T shaped handle with hook at one end. Eye near pointed end. Length: 76.5 cm Handle: 12.0 cm // (3) Cylindrical, T shaped handle. Eye near pointed end – crack in the iron. Length: 78.5 cm Handle: 11.4 cm // (4) Cylindrical, T shaped handle with hook at each end. Eye near tip of needle. Length: 90.1 cm Handle: 12.0 cm // (5) Cylindrical, T shaped handle with hook at one end. Length: 72.5 cm Handle: 13.7 cm Eyes as for others. // (2), (3), (4) & (5) All came from Cambridgeshire and were used by Mr F. W. Cooper, Eaton Socon, Cambs. who died 1974. The handles are all painted red. // (6) Cylindrical, T shaped handle with hook at one end – traces of blue paint. Length: 61.2 cm Handle: 13.5 cm // (7) Cylindrical, loop handle Length: 94.6 cm Handle: 5.8 cm // (8) Flat needle – made from hammered metal with loop handle. Length: 96.6 cm Handle: 5.2 cm. No eye but two notches at tip. Came from the Eastern Counties. // (9) Flat, combined needle & depth gauge, 12 small holes and one larger hole at tip. Length: 53.1 cm. No handle. From Eastern Counties. // (10) Cylindrical with loop handle. Extra 7.0 cm long bar projecting from the handle. Made by Gloucs. Blacksmith. Length: 53.0 cm Handle: 5.0 cm // Dimensions: … // Associated information: …. // References: …’, Typed/hand-written list in accession file: No. 2a.